Lady Aga

Aga and Rayburn cookers are hugely popular, especially amongst people looking for a more energy efficient solution. Both look absolutely stunning, creating a wonderful homely ambience in your kitchen. Both come in a suite of gorgeous colours. And both do a great job of cooking mouthwatering food. So what’s the difference?

Opinions differ. Aga cookers appear to pip the post when it comes to cooking, but some people prefer the Rayburn. The Aga has the biggest hot plates and most spacious ovens, and the oven is always up to heat. So you can cook a quiche at four in the morning if you like! If you’re a committed foodie and regularly have ten or more people round for dinner parties, you might find you need a four oven Aga. Both Aga cookers and Rayburn cookers feature sturdy, efficient cast iron ovens, perfect for slow-cooking low cost meat joints into a veritable feast of tenderness.

If you live in a terraced house you might find an Aga range is a bit too efficient, providing much more heat than you need. If you don’t like to waste perfectly good appliances, your heating system is just fine and your boiler is less than ten years old, you might find it’s best to fit an oil or gas Aga or ‘dry’ Rayburn – one that doesn’t heat your water.

Space is important too. Agas and Rayburns are generously sized. Provided you have a space measuring at least a metre wide by 67cm depth – that’s around 39 x 27 inches – you should be able to fit a two oven Aga in. You can add a flue to your Aga as long as you have an unused chimney handy. The size of your family counts too. If you have kids, the Aga might be your best bet. If you’re a couple who both work, the Rayburn may suit you best because you can set the heating with a timer.

Rayburns are popular with people who need loads of hot water on a regular basis. If you’ve got a huge kitchen and want your range cooker to function as a back-up cooker first, a heater second, a Rayburn will heat the room above the kitchen too! The Aga oven is four inches deeper, which suits some cooking fans. You can adjust the cooking temperature quicker with a Rayburn, so it’s easier to control. And unlike Rayburns, Agas don’t heat radiators unless you bolt on a separate boiler.

Obviously it’s horses for courses! But there’s a lot to consider before making a decision. It’s vital to consult an expert before buying an Aga or Rayburn range cooker. Whatever your decision, it’s good to know that fitting one usually increases the value of your home, so you’re onto a winner either way.